Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-08-17
CaIClOl.
A New and Original Illustrated
Serial Story BY
E. DIAMOND
Continued from Iast ,ceek.

II am DorcaS Lynn" answered, sur
prised at his words.
"Dorcas Lynn he unused, thoughtfuIly.
then observing my plain dress and evidently
supposing me to be one of the servants he
said, more quietly: 'Excuse me, little girl.
but you greatly resembled my-some one i
used to know. am mistaken. Don't mind
it, child" and he went on, leaving me
strangely disturbed at his words. / wan
dered out into the dim, dreary shrubbery,
now leafiess and shorn Of its beauty. The
wind blew in fitful gusts, now roaring
through the trees in fury, now dying
away to a breath. Almost unconsciously /
had wandered to the shore of the lake where
l could see the boats gently rocking on
the water. had been at the heights five
years, but in all that time had never en-
tered one of those boats; but strong i'm
pulse made me determined tonight to take
sail in one. l had often watched them
rowing on the lake, and felt sure could
manage one easily enough. Accordingly
unfastened one and got in, Needless that
stiff breeze was blowing now, and that
knew nothing about rowing. / took up an
oar and attempted TO row, but it was clumsy
work, / found, and the next thing did was
to drop it into the water. 1 was somewhat
frightened at this, for the boat drifted
swiftly out from the land and l could not
see how / could reach the shore again with
out the missing oar.
/ sat quite still, however, and the boat
drifted on, borne by the wind, which was
blowing from the land. A gale was spring
ing up, saw, for the boat rocked fearfully,
and clung to the side lest should fall out.
/ should never get back to the shore, I said
to myself. should be drowned in the lake
But after all the thought was not so terri
bic. l had nothing to live for, / said. Every
one at Caledon except the servants would be
relieved to know they were rid Of my pres
ence forever. And then suddenly remem.
bered that if 1 died the mystery which sur
rounded me would never be cleared up
Who was, what was, and what strange
clue kept me at Caledon would never be
known. Even should Mr.. Dudley return
and discover, as he had prom
ised, this secret, its knowledge could never
benefit me. l should long since have fur
nished food for the fishes in the lake where
once in passion had wished Irma Barrett
might be.
All these thoughts flashed through my
brain in the few moments / clung to the
boat that was now being tossed like an egg
shell in the center of the lake by the fear
full tempest that was raging. Every mo
ment expected to be thrown out into the
boiling waves, when suddenly saw a boat
put out from the shore and row straight for
the place where was Some one had seen
me from the house, coniectured, though it
seemed improbable, as it was now dark and
fine rain falling with the wind made it
unreasonable for any one to venture forth.
/ watched the boat as it neared me, and
could family discern single person in the
bow. In my anxiety 10 see who he was
leaned out over the edge of the boat, and
suddenly losing my balance, fell out head
long into the water. / felt rush of cold
water, binding spray covered me COM
pletely, half suffocating me; then l felt a
strong arm grasp me, and was lifted into a
boat beside dark form and knew l was
again safe.
My preserver did not speak, but did not
wonder, for it required his utmost efforts to
manage the boat and guide it to shore. But
suddenly as it had risen the wind lulled and
only gentle breeze swept the lake. The
sky, which had been overcast, now partly
cleared and the moon shone through, by
whose light l could see my companions
face. Surely there was something familiar
in that face-some long-remembered Inca
ment. 1t could not bel yetit must be Oliver
Dudley who was with me. And at that in
slant he spoke. knew that voice had
not waited years for those same kindly
tones. "Dorcas," he was saying, ''little
Dorcas, and is it thus find youl"
Somehow his words seemed strangely
cool and calm. could hardly speak, 30
tumultuous were the feelings that rushed
over me.
''Mr. Dudleyr' cried, springing forward
and clutching his arm, eagerly. 'It is you,
really you'll Oh, how glad amw poured
forth this in a torrent, still holding fast to
his arm the while lest he might vanish as
suddenly as he had come. But his answer
was very different from what expected.
stake care, Dorcas you will upset the
boat. Yes, it is really me in the flesh; rath-
er TOO substantial looking for ghost, am 1
not" were his words.
dropped his arm as quickly as though he
had struck me. His cold tone, his entire alb
sence of welcome to me, chilled me to the
heart. felt instantly that all was changed.
He had forgotten me, and such weight of
misery as settled upon me then and there l
hope, kind reader, you may never know.
We had reached the shore now, and, un-
needing his proffered assistance, / clam
bered out, and before he could detain me, /
sped up the narrow path to the house, and,
entering noiselessly, Il reached my own room
without being seen by any one. My clothing
was wet from my fall in the lake, my hair
disheveled and hanging loose about my
face. / was forlorn looking object enough,
but my looks were fit accompaniments to
my feelings. Mechanically / removed my
wet dress and then crouched down in the
darkest corner like whipped spaniel.
wringing my hands in dumb, helpless agony
at my disappointments.
. r,.,..-x,